This Day in the Battle of Britain

[Njaco]

23 September 1940 Monday
UNITED KINGDOM: The rather peaceful periods that the aircrews had experienced over the last few days was about to end, much like the cloud and rain periods as the bright ball of the sun could be seen above the low lying mist and fog layers. Some aircrews may have been thrown into a false sense of security as the month's combat actions had melted down to almost nothing. But by 0840 hours radar stations from Foreness to Rye detected four separate formations, close together, coming in from the Channel towards Dover. As they approached the Kent coastline they appeared to fan out with the outer formations coming in from Ramsgate and Brighton while the centre ones came in over Deal and Folkestone. The remainder spread out from Dover towards Maidstone and over the Estuary into Essex. Again, as in the previous few days, they were Geschwaders of Bf 109s and the Observer Corps estimated their numbers as two hundred plus. Fighter Command released fourteen squadrons. Again the British had the problem of fighters not being able to get to the desired height and position because of the time taken to gain height in a Bf 109 attack as they approached at a much faster rate than the bombers.

The formations of Bf 109s crossed the coast at about 0915 hours. Over fourteen Fighter Command squadrons scrambled to meet the raid, but only a few succeeded in engaging the raiders. Eight of 11 Group's squadrons managed to make an interception of the Germans when they were over North Kent. RAF No.257 Squadron (Hurricanes) and RAF No.92 Squadron (Spitfires) were among the first to intercept and a fierce dogfight took place off the coast near Herne Bay and Margate. Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 73, 229 and 303 Squadrons along with Spitfires of RAF Nos. 41, 72 and 603 Squadrons were engaged in dogfights over Kent, Sussex and the Channel for nearly one hour.

An area from Dartford to Margate became a mass of twisting, whirling white vapor trails as the fighters from both sides weaved and spiraled against the backdrop of a now bright blue sky. A Spitfire of RAF No.92 Squadron piloted by P/O A.J.S. Patterson, engaged in aerial combat over Gravesend was hit, forcing the pilot to break away from the action. He tried to make for the aerodrome at West Malling, but in an attempted forced landing the Spitfire crashed into the ground wounding himself in the upper leg. Lt. Gustav Sprick, Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 26, was given credit for the kill.

Sgt D.J. Aslin of RAF No. 257 Squadron suffered burns when his Hurricane sustained a hit from one of the Bf 109s and caught fire over the Thames Estuary. He managed to bale out with his aircraft crashing near Eastchurch. Sgt Aslin was the thirty-eighth victim of Major Galland, the Kommodore of JG 26 who shot down his thirty-ninth less than a minute later. The action continued as other British pilots came to grief. Four Hurricane's from RAF No.73 Squadron, scrambled from Debden and engaged in combat over the Thames between Sheppy and Southend, were jumped on by Bf 109s of II./JG 26 and were shot down in flames over the Isle of Sheppy and the Thames Estuary. A Spitfire of RAF No.72 Squadron crashed at Sittingbourne, a Spitfire II of RAF No.74 Squadron was shot down while in single combat with a Bf 109 and a Spitfire flown by P/O W. Beaumont of RAF No.152 Squadron was last seen over the Channel but it is not known if he was engaged in combat over north Kent.

Hptm. Wilhelm Balthasar from Stab III./JG 3 reported,

"Over London my Schwarm met a formation of Englishmen, around sixty fighters .......... I made a head-on attack on a Spitfire. The enemy tracer flew past my canopy, but the Englishman went spinning down in flames. Perhaps he had lost his nerve. Now a wild dogfight began. It was best to break away. Now I had four Spitfires on my tail. I was 18000 metres, and I pushed the stick forward and dived away at full speed, pulling out at ground level with my wings fluttering. No British fighter could have followed my wild dive. I looked behind me. Damn! There were two Spits on my tail again. There was no time to draw breath. My only chance of escape lay in my flying ability at low level, hedgehopping to the Channel over houses and around trees. It was no use, one of them was always there and I couldn't shake him off. He hung a hundred metres behind me. Then we were over Dover. I thought: He can't keep this up as I fled out over the wavetops but the Spitfire stayed behind. I jinked to right and left as the pilot opened fire and the bullets splashed into the water in front of me. I blinked the sweat out of my eyes. The French coast was now in sight. My fuel was getting low. I kept squinting behind so as not to miss the moment when he broke away. Wait, my friend, I thought. You must return soon, and then I will be the hunter. Cap Gris Nez loomed up in front, and I skimmed over it one metre above. Suddenly the Tommy climbed steeply and slowed down. . . . At once I turned my Me 109 and zoomed up in a tight bank, engine howling, straight at him. I fired one burst from close range I nearly rammed him and the Spitfire went straight into the sea. He flew fantastically."

Hptm. Balthasar would be rewarded with the claim of two Spitfires destroyed. Five pilots of LG 2 were credited with kills as were seven from JG 26 including Oblt. Walter Schneider of 6./JG 26 who was awarded two Hurricanes ten minutes apart. In total, eleven Hurricanes and Spitfires were lost due to combat action. Four pilots managed to bale out of their damaged aircraft, while four crash landed. Of the eight, six pilots received burns or severe wounds.

 

[Njaco]

(23 September 1940 continued....)

But it wasn't just the fighters of Fighter Command that were having a bad day. The Luftwaffe suffered just as bad. F/Lt Brian Kingcombe of RAF No.92 Squadron managed to score a direct hit on a Bf 109 near Maidstone. Fw. Gerhard Gryzmalla of 8./JG 26 baled out and was captured. Another of the RAF No.92 Sqd Spitfires being flown by P/O J.F. Drummond damaged the cooling system of a Bf 109 north of Maidstone and it was forced down finally finishing up in a pond where Fw. Arnold Küpper of 8./JG 26 also was taken prisoner. RAF No.72 Sqd also claimed credit for destroying a Bf 109 that was seen to dive into the Channel off Folkestone. The Poles of RAF No.303 Sqd also increased their tally when they claimed two Bf 109s over the Thames Estuary while RAF No.257 Sqd and RAF No.605 Sqd destroyed one each. In all, ten Bf 109s either crashed on English soil, or crashed on landing due to battle damage and were all destroyed while four managed to return back to their French bases with sustained battle damage. Uffz. Friedrich Dilthey of 4./JG 2 was made a prisoner of war when his Bf 109 crashed on English soil after combat. The Messerschmitts soon retreated back across the Channel.

I.(J)/LG 2 claimed three aerial victories for the loss of four Bf 109s including one important pilot. As Hans-Joachim Marseille was returning from a bomber-escort mission, his engine failed after combat damage sustained over Dover; he tried to radio his position but was forced to bail out over the sea. He paddled around in the water for three hours before being rescued by a Heinkel He 59 float plane based at Schellingwoude. Severely worn out and suffering from exposure, he was sent to a field hospital.

A lone Ju 88 on a photo or weather reconnaissance mission was detected over the Channel south of the Isle of Wight and RAF No.234 Squadron (Spitfires) from Middle Wallop sent one flight to intercept. The Junkers was shot down and made a belly landing in the sea. All the crew managed to get out of the sinking aircraft and were captured by British authorities. Then about 1100 hours, of 234 Squadron scrambled from St. Eval and intercepted a small raid of Bf109s off the coast of Cornwall.

Just after 1300 hours Spitfires of RAF No. 41 Sqd were scrambled from Hornchurch to escort an Anson reconnaissance plane spotting for big guns firing from Dover. They were attacked by nine Bf 109s, subsequently forcing the Anson to land before the Spitfires chased them back towards Calais.

At 1730 hours 40 German aircraft flew to the North Foreland, turned into the Estuary, crossed inland at Sheppey and flew South to Rye. At about the same time 55 aircraft crossed the coast between Folkestone and Dover. The attack lasted for only a short time and was confined to the area East of a line Sheppey - Rye. Twelve Fighter Squadrons in four wings were detailed to the attack from Uxbridge, but no casualties on either side were reported.

The afternoon was again peaceful after a busy morning, much to the delight of the aircrews but during the evening, as usual, things started to change. During the night more raids were made on London by 261 aircraft with bombs also dropped on Newmarket, near Duxford, Digby, Liverpool, Preston, the Midlands, South Wales and the Bristol area. At 1945 hours the usual stream of German aircraft started from East of Baie De la Seine area, crossing the coast at Beachy Head. At the same time bombers also appeared from the direction of Antwerp, crossing the coast at Harwich and spreading out inland towards Bury St Edmunds where they turned South West towards the London area.

London was under Red Alert from 19:56 to 05:27 and fire engulfed Clarnico's, trapping over 100 in the factory's basement shelter. By midnight 24 serious fires were burning in West Ham. A fire completely gutted the ARP Transport Store and Garage, at Lowhall Farm, but all the vehicles were saved. At 2107 hours the Stevenage Wharf was hit and petrol was leaking into the river from tanks of the National Benzol Co. Hastings, Bexhill and Seaford were also attacked, but casualties were few and damage confined to property. A He-111H-3 of KG 26 was reported down near Chobham during the night and the crew baled out. A Vickers Twin Mk 8 firing from Waltham Cross exploded a descending mine. By 0345 hours only one raid remained in the London area, and a few between London and the South Coast.

During the daylight attacks, Oblt. Hans 'Assi' Hahn, the Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 2, shot down a Spitfire over London for his twentieth victory and upon returning back to his airfield was awarded the Ritterkreuz. In England, JG 3's Lt. Hans-Herbert Landry, who was shot down on 28 August, 1940 and severely injured, died of his wounds in a British POW camp.

Losses: Luftwaffe 17: Fighter Command 11.

 

[Njaco]

24 September 1940 Tuesday
UNITED KINGDOM: Most of the fighter stations in the south of England woke up to a rather foggy morning. Reports had come through from the coastal radar stations indicated that most of the Channel coast was also under the influence of reduced visibility. However, by 0630 hours, the visibility increased as the fog began to lift. At 0810 hours radar stations at Foreness, Dover and Rye picked up a large formation coming across the Channel from Calais. It turned out to be a formation of about 200 plus that consisted of Ju 88 bombers with Bf 109 fighter escort. The formation was broken up into a number of smaller formations that were to cross the Kent coast on a wide front.

Keith Park decided that he would send up eleven squadrons. RAF No. 72 Sqd (Spitfires) were scrambled early to meet an advance formation of Bf 109s. The bomber formation continued its route in a northerly direction heading towards the Thames Estuary and it was in this area that they were met by RAF No.17 Sqd (Hurricanes) and RAF No.92 Sqd (Spitfires). The area over the Thames Estuary was misty with fog areas over the resort towns, but above this, the two fighter squadrons engaged in combat with the bombers. Both the Spitfire squadrons lost aircraft without inflicting any losses to the raiders whilst all other RAF squadrons scrambled had been recalled as the bombers turned back without executing their attack. According to German records, a number of the bombers did sustain damage in this action, and although they managed to return to their bases many of them crashed upon landing due to combat damage.

The first casualty of the morning was from RAF No. 72 Sqd that engaged the advance party of Bf 109s. At 0820 hours a Spitfire flown by Sgt J. Steere sustained damage while in combat over Dartford, but not enough for him to abandon his aircraft and he managed to return to base. In return, RAF No. 72 Sqd managed to shoot down one Bf 109 before the German fighters gained height and redirected themselves east to meet up with the main bomber formation. Over the Thames Estuary, RAF No. 72 was to claim another two possibly damaged, and one definitely damaged. RAF No.92 Sqd (Spitfires) claimed six German aircraft damaged, with two of them possibles. One of them, a He 111 was seen returning back out towards the North Sea badly smoking from both engines. One of the RAF No.92 Sqd Spitfires was hit by gunfire from one of the Bf 109s and was seen to crash near North Weald and bursting into flames on impact. The pilot did not bale out and went down with the aircraft.

Just after 1100 hours two waves of attacks crossed the Kent coast. The first, a primary wave of about one hundred aircraft, crossed near Dover and the second of eighty aircraft came in over the east near Ramsgate to attack coastal towns. Although eighteen Squadrons were scrambled, most failed to intercept due to poor weather and cloud cover but Hurricanes of RAF No. 17 Squadron, scrambled from Debden, were attacked by Bf109s of JG 26 led by Major Adolf Galland. RAF No.17 Sqd (Hurricanes) claimed one aircraft damaged and another possibly damaged, but unfortunately lost one Hurricane after it crashed into the sea off Chatham after being hit by gunfire from a Bf 109. The pilot P/O H.A.C. Bird-Wilson managed to bale out of his burning aircraft with burns to his hands and body, but was rescued from the sea by a boat.

The morning had been a busy one for Fighter Command although they weren't pushed anywhere near the limit. Several Luftwaffe pilots were successful during the morning attack including Oblt. Anton Mader and Gefr. Kaspar Amhausend, both of 1./JG 2, Hptm. Günther von Maltzahn of Stab II./JG 53, Uffz. Fritz Schweser of 7./JG 54 and Uffz. Hugo Dahmer of 6./JG 26. Another victor of the morning battles was Major Adolf Galland, Kommodore of JG 26, who shot down a Hurricane over Rochester for his fortieth victory. Returning back to base from an unsuccessful freie jagd in the afternoon he was immediately summoned to Berlin.

Almost as if on cue, everything seemed to be quiet while everybody went home.

By 1330 hours, RAF No. 41 Sqd (Spitfires) was on patrol over the Channel near 'Hell Corner' when they were bounced on by a flight of Bf 109s. The squadron was forced to take defensive action and failed to turn the action into one of attack. Two aircraft were lost, one crashed into the sea and the pilot rescued, while the other sustained serious damage and once over the Kent coast was forced to crash land somewhere outside Dover. The pilot was unhurt.

Twenty minutes later a formation of fifty Bf 110 aircraft from I./Epr.Gr 210, 4./ZG 76 and III./ZG 76 made a surprise attack on the docks and naval ports of Southampton and Portsmouth. The Bf 110s managed to fly past the Isle of Wight and up the Solent with not one Hurricane or Spitfire in sight and headed towards the Spitfire factory at Woolston where a number of direct hits caused considerable damage to a number of buildings and an air raid shelter where it was estimated that 100 factory workers were killed. The main factory and assembly plant was not hit and production was unaffected. The only defense that could be offered by the British defenses was by the anti-aircraft units who excelled with accurate gunfire with one Bf 110 crashing into the sea, two Bf 110s of III./ZG 76 also sustaining hits and crashing into the Channel while a Bf 110 of 4./ZG 76 sustained damage and managed to get back to base.

After the raid on Southampton, the attackers then turned on Portsmouth where they dropped their bombloads on mostly residential and commercial areas of the city with the naval dockyard and factories remaining undamaged. Shortly after 1600 hours another raid, consisting of Do17s, He111s and Bf 109s, was plotted approaching the Isle of Wight and Southampton. As they crossed the coast and turned inland, Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 56, 238, 605 and 607 Squadrons along with Spitfires of RAF Nos. 66, 152 and 609 Squadrons had been scrambled to intercept. The Hurricanes of RAF No. 605 Squadron engaged the Do17s and some fleeing He 111s were attacked by Spitfires of RAF No.66 Squadron over Kent. Four German aircraft were destroyed plus two damaged. Lt. Karl Roos of 5./JG 53 claimed a Spitfire, his first victory, south of the Isle of Wight.

Losses: Luftwaffe 10: Fighter Command 6.

Six Hurricanes and Spitfires were destroyed, three pilots baled out, four damaged aircraft crashed on landing while eight other aircraft, although damaged by German gunfire were repairable. The Luftwaffe lost twenty aircraft damaged or destroyed, sixteen pilots and aircrew killed or missing and six wounded.

Soon after darkness fell, the usual formations of bomb-laden Heinkels, Dorniers and Junkers arrived over the coastline of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire for the continuation of the night bombing raids that had been so prevalent over the last couple of weeks. At 1930 hours, raids started coming out of Le Havre making for Shoreham and London. These were followed by a sequence of other raids on the same course which were not, however, as numerous as usual. At about the same time, raids from the direction of Holland crossed the North Norfolk coast and for the most part remained in East Anglia except for two which penetrated more deeply Westwards. None of these raids appeared to proceed to the London area. The bombing was very widespread with heavy forces again targeting London, Portsmouth and Plymouth. Other areas targeted by the Luftwaffe bomber formations were Hull and Humberside, Newcastle and Middlesborough and Manchester and a number of areas in the west and in South Wales. At 2100 hours IBs fell on the Sunbeam-Talbot Motor Works, the offices of which were damaged by fire. Warwick Road was blocked and Earls Court Railway Station closed. Bombs were reported near the West End Central Police Station with fires at Boyle Street and Saville Row. Hungerford Bridge and Signal Box was on fire, together with St Margaret's, Westminster. Bombs were dropped on the SR track at Broughton Street, Battersea and the line from Battersea to Clapham Junction was blocked.

At midnight II./KG 27 sent several He 111s on a raid on the city of Liverpool. It was by far one of the most widespread of bombing attacks so far and it continued until about 0600 hours the next morning. There was also some activity in the Dundee area, the Midlands and South Midlands.

Several HEs were dropped at 0314 hours on Feltwell and slight damage was done to walls and windows of one hangar. One Wellington aircraft was burnt out and another was damaged.

GERMANY: The Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26, Adolf Galland received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross; Hitler agrees with his admiration for the RAF.

 

[Njaco]

25 September 1940 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: As a result of Hitler's indefinite postponement of the invasion instructions were issued to increase the attacks against the British aircraft industry, both by night and day, by reducing the size of the formations engaged in raids on London. Accordingly the bomber force of Luftflotte 3 was once again assigned the most important targets on the western side of Britain, and as part of a new strategy September 25th saw the start of a planned series of large scale daylight attacks, in Geschwader strength with long range fighter cover, on the aircraft industry in the West Country.

The day started relatively quietly with only a few reconnaissance raids until about 1148 hours when a large raid crossed the coast near Weymouth. The target that morning was the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton, and the weather was perfect for bombing, with banks of thick cloud broken by patches of clear blue sky. Gruppenkommandeur Major Friedrich Kless led five He 111s of the Stab./KG 55, twenty-one He 111s of I./KG 55, twenty-four He 111s of II./KG 55, eighteen He 111s of III./KG 55 escorted by fifty-two Bf 110s of all three Gruppen of ZG 26 flying in almost perfect formation arrived over the city and made straight for the works, and found them completely at their mercy. In 45 terror-filled seconds they let loose 168 bombs, causing a high death-roll and much havoc. Seven Ju 88s broke away from the main body flying to Filton, and made an unsuccessful dive bombing attack down to 500 feet on the oil tanks at Portland. The raiders were not intercepted by RAF fighters until they had left the target area, but the local anti-aircraft gunners scored their first success, an He 111 of II./KG 55 which was brought down at Failand during its run in to the target. Hurricanes of RAF No. 229 and RAF No.238 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF No.152 and RAF No.234 Squadrons were scrambled but were originally vectored to Yeovil where the Westland aircraft works seemed the likely target. Once the true target was determined, three Squadrons swung into pursuit. The He 111s of KG 53 and KG 55 suffered heavy losses to the Hurricanes of RAF No. 238 Squadron with P/O John Urwin-Mann (a Canadian pilot) shooting down two of the bombers. A total of eight bombers and fighters failed to return including three shot down over Dorset and two that crashed on the return to France. One of the Bf 110s lost from ZG 26 was Walter Scherer with ten victories, who was shot down and taken prisoner.

Serious damage had indeed been caused at the Rodney Works, while here and at the Flight Shed and East Engine Works, the workers shelters were hit by a stick of bombs, causing many casualties. Damage to house property, gas and water mains was experienced over a wide area including Filton village, Westbury-on-Trim, South Mead and Chipping Sodbury. The attack also destroyed eight newly built aircraft, including two precious Beaufighter prototypes, and production was temporarily halted. Over Filton and surrounding districts 81.5 tonnes of HEs and 6 tonnes of Oil Bombs had been dropped, which tragically resulted in the death of 132 people, of which 91 were Company employees, while a further 315 were injured. The crew reports, and photographs taken by KG 55 during the attack, together with a reconnaissance mission flown over Filton later that day by a lone Bf 110 of 4(F)/14 proved to the Germans that the raid had been a great success. Accordingly the Luftwaffe's own magazine, 'Der Adler', soon after proudly proclaimed "this factory will not produce many more aircraft", while Major Friedrich Kless, the attack leader and Gruppenkommandeur of II/KG 55, was awarded the Ritterkruz on October 14th.

Although Filton was acting as a temporary sector station, RAF Nos. 87 and 213 Sqdrns were operating from Exeter and Bibury. To guard against further attack Dowding immediately ordered RAF No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron to move to Filton from Hendon.

It was not until later in the day, at about 1600 hours, that a second raid was made, this time on the Plymouth and Isle of Wight areas. Approximately twenty-four German bombers with an escort of twelve Bf 110s crossed the coast at Start Point and attacked the Plymouth area at 1647 hours. Several sections of RAF fighters - Hurricanes of RAF Nos. 238 and 607 Squadrons and Spitfires of RAF No. 609 Squadron, intercepted and dispersed this formation. One German bomber was destroyed (plus two aircraft probably destroyed and one damaged) without loss to the defending RAF fighters. A large amount of damage was caused to house property, water mains, electric supply and telephone wires.

Shortly after 1930 hours, raids began coming out of Le Havre towards Portsmouth and made for London. These were followed by others from Cherbourg which entered along the coast Westward from Beachy Head. Other raids from Holland came in over the Norfolk Coast and the Wash. Some of the latter made a wide sweep and approached London from the North West. Other raids were made on Derby, South Wales, Liverpool, the Midlands and East Anglia. The railway property in and around London was one of the Luftwaffe's main objectives during this period with damage and traffic interference being caused. The railway bridge over Thames Road, Chiswick, was hit by HEs and HE bombs were dropped on the GW and LMS (London Joint) Railway at Kensington at 0500 hours, the lines being completely blocked by debris. Major fires were started at Wandsworth, Edmonton, Tottenham, Old Kent Road and Hammersmith. During these fires damage was caused to British Oxygen Co's plant at Edmonton, and the GWR sheds at Hammersmith.

KGr 606 again undertook a raid on Liverpool with its Do 17s with one of the bombers dropping its load on the city of Bristol. By 0530 hours, the last raids from the London area had re-crossed the South Coast.

Anti-aircraft in the Rochford area claimed to have destroyed on Ju 88 at 1940 hours which was reported to have fallen into the sea.

On the night of the 25th, the highest number of people sheltering in the tube stations was recorded.

A Hurricane from RAF No.43 Squadron based at Usworth airfield in Durham, landed wheels up at Hetton le Hole following engine failure due to the mishandling of a fuel ****. P/O C.E. Langdon was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged but repairable.

WESTERN FRONT: The crews of II./JG 52 completed its refitting and returned to its airfields at Peupelinge, France.

36 CR42 Fighters and 36 G50 Fighters from Italy were being transferred as complete units (2 Gruppos) to Melsbrouck on the Western Front. 72 BR20 Bombers and 5 Cant1007 Bombers were also being transferred and a number of transport aircraft accompanied them.

 

[Njaco]

26 September 1940 Thursday
UNITED KINGDOM: Throughout the morning and early afternoon small, single aircraft, reconnaissance and bombing raids were made on coastal towns from Yorkshire down to Kent and along the South coast. Although many squadrons were scrambled during this period, very few interceptions were made. Luftflotte 3, in contrast to their recent night-time operations, undertook a daylight mission against the aircraft factories of Britain.

About 0900 hours, some 180 German aircraft (100 fighters and 80 bombers) crossed the Coast between Folkestone and Dover in six formations at heights varying from 15,00 to 20,000 feet. No 11 Group sent up 13 Squadrons to meet this attack and 11 of these Squadrons intercepted. No 12 Group provided 4 Squadrons to patrol North Weald and Hornchurch. The attack was halted in the Maidstone - Tonbridge area but some enemy aircraft penetrated to Central and West London. By 0943 hours, raids were dispersing over the Coast from Shoreham to Dungeness.

Between 1147 and 1215 hours, six formations totalling 300 enemy aircraft crossed the coast between Dover and Lympne at heights varying from 12,000 to 29,000 feet, and headed towards the Chatham area. Twenty Squadrons were sent up and the main engagements took place over Kent and East Sussex.

At 1120 hours two formations consisting of about 25 bombers escorted by 45 Bf110s and some Bf109s, crossed the coast near Swanage and flew to Filton. At Frome, the Bf109s turned back. Eight Squadrons were despatched to meet the attack, one of which intercepted and dispersed the enemy formations before they reached the Bristol Aeroplane Co's Works, but Filton RAF Station was attacked from 11,000 feet. 2 bombs fell near the Operations Room, one on the perimeter of dispersal tack and 5 in fields near the North corner of the landing ground. Serviceability was not affected and the only damage was to one hangar, water pipe to hydrant and the field telephone. There was no damage to service aircraft.

In the afternoon, Northolt was visited by King George VI, who talked with the pilots of RAF No. 1 (Canadian) and No. 303 Squadrons. As the visit was drawing to a close, 303 Squadron was scrambled in full strength, and directed towards a large enemy raid.

At about 1630 hours, the raid approached the Isle of Wight and Southampton areas and was followed by a second wave of bombers and fighters amounting to about sixty aircraft of He 111s, Ju 88s and Bf 109s. KG 55 tried to repeat its success of the day before. Their objective was the Southampton Supermarine Works. At 16:28 hours 27 Bf110s attacked the Itchen and Woolston Vickers-Supermarine works, six dive-bombing, the remainder attacking from 14,000 feet. A quarter of an hour later, after tracking in over the New Forest, came 35 Heinkels escorted by 50 fighters to destroy the factory. Once again, the He 111s of KG 55 were escorted by Bf 110s and bombed the factory. I./KG 55 devastated the factory where three Spitfires on the production line were destroyed. Some of the 70 tons of bombs used strayed onto Dawks gas works killing 11 and injuring 16, and another 11 were killed at the docks. Casualties at Supermarine's were serious, nearly 100 more dying in and around the works factory. Five Hurricane Squadrons and four Spitfire Squadrons were scrambled to intercept the raid including RAF No. 303 (Polish) Sqdrn which had left Northolt in the middle of an inspection by the King. Twelve squadrons of fighters ordered to intercept mostly flew too high. It was left to Solent guns to challenge the raiders before four squadrons went into action - after the bombing - shooting down a He-111 and two ZG 26 Bf110s on the Isle of Wight. Hurricanes from RAF No.229 Squadron intercepted the flight and shot down a Heinkel into the sea near the Isle of Wight. Two more Heinkels made it to Dreux airfield with battle damage and crash-landed.

RAF No. 303 led No. 229 Squadron into the fray. S/Ld. Kellett led 'Red Section' against the German fighters but as fighter opposition did not develop the Squadron instead attacked the bomber sections in echelon from astern. Escorting Bf 109s attacked after the first sweep and the Squadron broke up into mostly dog fighting and some pursuing the bombers back to France. Sgt. Balc forced landed at Biggin Hill and P/O. Januszewicz at Wyton Farm near Fureham with both unhurt. The Squadron saw nothing of No. 229 Squadron which was below and behind them, and unable to make a concerted attack. In the resulting fight, Polish pilots claimed thirteen victories (7 He 111, 2 Do 17, 4 Bf 109). Three Hurricanes were damaged. On the King's request, the results of the fight were relayed to Buckingham Palace.

Up until nearly 1800 hours chases and dogfights spread across the southern areas of England and over the Channel. Hptm. Helmut Wick of Stab I./JG 2 destroyed his thirtieth Allied aircraft and Major Wolfgang Schellmann of Stab/JG 2 destroyed a Spitfire over the Isle of Wight. Claims for double kills were made by Uffz. Karl Hannes of 5./JG 2 and Fw. Wilhelm Hermes of 2./JG 2. Five pilots of ZG 26 claimed downing three Spitfires and two Hurricanes including Obstlt. Johann Schalk of Stab III./ZG 26.

Fortunately for the future of the Spitfire, many of the production jigs and machine tools had already been relocated before 20 September and steps were being taken to disperse production to small facilities throughout the Southampton area.

As darkness was falling, a raid of twenty-five German aircraft, originating from the Bay of Biscay was made on Crewe just before 2000 hours without interception. High explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped causing damage to property and Coppenhall Junction. At the latter, all four lines were reported out of action. After leaving Crewe, the raids split up and returned via Bristol and Poole Bay.

During the night German activity was at first widespread over the whole country south of a line Liverpool to Humber. Heavy raids were made across the country to London, Liverpool, Hull, the Midlands, Cambridge, Newmarket and the airfields at Mildenhall and Duxford. Raids did not approach London until 2030 hours and then continued until 0300 hours. A lull until 0500 hours followed when twelve further raids visited London. The damage in the London area was not so severe as on the previous night, but railway communications were affected at Carlton Hill and part of the track between Park Avenue and Palace Gate Stations was damaged. Castlehaven Road Railway Bridge was badly damaged and there was also a large fire on the Southern Railway Crystal Palace line. In the Westminster district, one bomb fell outside the Houses of Parliament and another in front of the steps leading from King Charles Street to St James Park. The underground Cabinet War Room suffered a hit when a bomb exploded on the Clive Steps.

At 2336 hours, a large number of incendiary bombs were dropped on the Royal Small Arms Factory causing several fires. The tunnel between Birkenhead Park Station and Hamilton Square Station was damaged by a bomb. Liverpool. At 2100 hours, high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped causing very considerable damage to property and starting severe fires in the Dock areas where ships and warehouses were burning.

Although Fighter Command claimed 131 aircraft shot down, reality was much different. Losses: Luftwaffe, 9; RAF, 9.

WESTERN FRONT: Hptm. Otto Bertram was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2 in place of Hptm. Dr. Erich Mix.

77 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked Channel ports during the Battle of Britain. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden were lost, the latter from 61 Sqdn based at Hemswell. The crew were P/O R.P. Earl, P/O W.D. Hermon and Sgt D. Sinclair, lost whilst attacking the 'Scharnhorst'.

 

[Njaco]

27 September 1940 Friday
"THE BATTLE OF GRAVENEY MARSH"
UNITED KINGDOM: The weather during the morning was fair, with patches of cloud, and for the citizens of Bristol this offered the unique opportunity to witness a classic 'dog-fight' over the City. The first raid of the day by the Luftwaffe over England was a formation of Bf 110s with a front escort of Bf 109s from JG 51, JG 54 and some units from JG 77 some 180 German aircraft (100 fighters and 80 bombers). The formation consisted of ten Bf 110s of Epr.Gr 210 and forty-two long range twin-engined Messerschmitts of all three Gruppen of ZG 26 conducting a daylight pin-point raid on the Parnall Aircraft works at Yale. At about 0900 hours, the formation crossed the Coast between Folkestone and Dover in six formations at heights varying from 15,00 to 20,000 feet. No 11 Group sent up 13 Squadrons and the attack was halted in the Maidstone - Tonbridge area but some bombers penetrated to Central and West London. Attacked by British fighters from Dungeness to London, the Zerstörers dropped their loads over the countryside and dove away from the British to head home. Hurricanes of RAF No. 504 Sqdrn chased and shot down two Bf 110s of the escorting I./ZG 26 while the remaining fighter-bombers lost a third of its force to additional RAF fighters. One of the Messerschmitts disintegrated over the Stapleton Institution at Fishponds, and was the only enemy aircraft to crash within the Bristol boundary during the Second World War, while the other came down at Haydon, near Radstock. A number of senior officers of Epr.Gr 210 were lost including the Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Martin Lutz and the Staffelkapitän of 2 Staffel, Oblt. Wilhelm Rossiger, both of whom were posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz. Also lost was Oblt. Adolf Johann Buhl of I(J)./LG 2 who was listed missing in action after combat. He had seven victories with the Lehrgeschwader. Oblt. Werner Weymann was made acting-Gruppenkommandeur of Epr.Gr. 210 in place of Oblt. Lutz. Oblt. Wolfgang Schenck was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./Erpr.Gr. 210 in Oblt. Weymann's place.

On this day, two days after the devastating attacks on the Aeroplane Works at Bristol, the Germans again came over with the same intentions. At about 1130 hours a force of about nine bombers, accompanied by fighters, came over the city, but a squadron of Hurricanes was waiting for them. A.A. guns were in action as well, and the formation was dispersed before it could reach its target. Regardless of the danger, crowds of people came out in the streets to watch the 'dog fights' taking place in the sky.

At 11:45 hours a Bf 110 from 3./ZG 26 was engaged head-on and the petrol tank was set on fire during an escort sortie for the Erpr.Gr 210 raid on Yale. Probably attacked by Sgt H. D. B. Jones of No. 504 Sqdrn but also possibly that claimed by F/O T. H. T. Forshaw of No. 609 Sqdrn. The abandoned aircraft crashed and burned out. Lt Koepsell baled out and was captured unhurt, landing at Terry Hill, near Mells. Uffz Schmidt fell dead near Kilmersdon Colliery railway with unopened Parachute.

As the first major attack subsided, another approached the Kent and Sussex coast at 1130 hours and consisted only of Do 17 and Ju 88 bombers. Between 1147 and 1215 hours, six formations totaling 300 German aircraft crossed the coast between Dover and Lympne at heights varying from 12,000 to 29,000 feet, and headed towards the Chatham area. Twenty RAF Squadrons were sent up and the main engagements took place over Kent and East Sussex. RAF Squadrons were ripping into the helpless bombers as the Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighter escorts arrived. For nearly two hours aerial battles consumed the skies over southern England.

A Ju 88 crashed and burned out at Folly Farm, South Holmwood on Friday at 9.30 hours. Possibly that claimed by P/O M. Ferric of No.303 Squadron. Walter Schmidt from Ravensburg was flying in another 2 Staffel Ju 88 as gunner and recounts the day;

"I was a gunner on a Ju 88 of the 2 Staffel of KG 77 which took part in the raid. It was one of the most memorable acts of enemy action that I took part in, of my 200 sorties from 1940-45. If I remember correctly, the target was a gas works in London. We were flying with eighteen machines of the first group in formation of two squadrons. The approach height was about 5,300 m and the bomb release 5,100 m. At this height the warning came through the intercom of "fighters below right". As I glanced below and slightly to the left, I could see fighters myself. I Believe they had a big red circle on their wings without white. The green camouflage paint was very dark, by that we recognised the British fighters at once. They were flying about 200 m below us, against our flight direction. Then commenced the most hectic aerial combat I had experienced. We were attacked by fighters without a break. Often I saw several aircraft at once being shot down in flames, with black or white smoke trailing, or like red torches. The '3Z + HK' broke in the middle at the point of the cross insignia. One couldn't possibly observe everything. Our own fighters were more than likely too far behind and above. At this time, we were still under strong fighter attack. After a quick look round I saw several parachutes descending. Between the fighter attacks, I noticed to my horror that the release on my parachute harness, on which I was lying most of the time, had opened. It opens itself on a 90 degree turn and with light pressure and was now lying loose with the parachute on my back. Between single fighter actions, I managed to get my parachute operational again. Should it have been necessary to use my parachute in that condition, I would have had the same fate as comrade Menningmann, who fell out of his harness. In the meantime, both our squadrons were scattered all over the place and we returned home alone. After our return to base, we observed only nine aircraft returned from this action."

As the raid over the southeast was developing, another approached Dorset and attacked Filton at about 1130 hours. This raid was principally composed of fighters, made up of forty-five Bf 109s and Bf 110s and was engaged by Spitfires of RAF No.152 and RAF No.609 Squadrons and Hurricanes of RAF No.56 and RAF No.504 Squadrons. At Frome, the Bf 109s turned back. The escorting Bf 109s had orders to remain in the London area to protect the follow-up bomber formations of Do 17s and Ju 88s but they failed to rendezvous with the bombers. Instead they were heavily bounced by the British fighters who forced the German fighters to break away from combat and dive for home. Without the needed escort, the Do 17s and Ju 88s were intercepted at the coast and forced to retreat, dropping their loads harmlessly.

P/O Alfred Keith Ogilvie of RAF No. 609 Sqdrn succeeded in downing an Bf110 off Portland as he described in this combat report.

"I was flying Yellow 3. At 24,000 feet we engaged a circle of Me110s. Following Yellow 1 we made a beam attack on the circle, each taking a separate aircraft. The circle broke up and I saw an Me110 turn into Yellow 1. There was a head on collision, both aircraft disintegrated in terrific explosion. I made an attack on one from almost head on, climbed up and came down vertically on him (10 secs). He went straight down, both engines on fire. This was seen by other pilots. I also saw at least three other 110s going down in flames, one hit the sea, another on the land near Portland."

With no fighter escort to effectively clear the skies, the Luftwaffe decided to split the next raid into two formations, one group of eighty aircraft headed to Bristol while another group of 300 bombers were sent to London. Unbeknown to the Zerstörer pilots of LG 1, the twin-engined fighters were to be used as a feint to draw off the Spitfires and Hurricanes from the two bomber formations. Of the last remaining eleven Bf 110s of V(Z)./LG 1 available, one was damaged during take-off and aborted, leaving ten planes to take on the British. The ruse worked as the small formation drew the attention of Fighter Command and was decimated by British fighters. Of the ten Zerstörers from V(Z)./LG 1 that took-off from the airfield near Caen, only three planes made it back to base. The others were lost in the day's battles over England. One pilot remembered, . . .

. .after 27 September there were only two crews left who had been with the Gruppe prior to the start of the French campaign in May 1940: Fw. Jecke (still in hospital) and radio operator Uffz. Schmergal of 14./LG 1 and Oblt. Zobel with Uffz. Pellnat. The others had been killed, wounded or captured and as well several had been transferred. . . The personnel who had come from the Zerstörer Replacement Training Gruppe had suffered equally heavily. Of twelve crews assigned to the unit before the end of operations over England, nine failed to return from combat sorties. . ."

The most serious of the losses was the Gruppenkommandeur, Hptm. Horst Liensberger, who was killed in battle. Despite this, several pilots from V(Z)./LG 1 put in claims for four Spitfires shot down but were denied.

 

[Njaco]

(27 September 1940 continued....)

There were still too many British fighters. Drawing Spitfires and Hurricanes from No. 10 Group, the two bombers formations were intercepted and badly mauled over the West Country, breaking formation and dropping their loads on the suburbs. Twenty bombers managed to slip through the defenders and reached the center of London but caused little damage. The rest retreated back over the Channel, harassed the entire way by British fighters.

The day's losses for the Luftwaffe totaled fifty-five aircraft missing including twenty-one bombers making this day one of the most devastating days of the battle for the Germans. Ten aircraft were destroyed during the 1130 hours raid, losses that forced the Luftwaffe to halt the fighter-bomber attacks on West Country targets. Twenty-eight fighters were lost by Fighter Command but most of these crash landed on English soil with their pilots returning to action shortly after. Among the victors of the day was Hptm. Helmut Wick of Stab I./JG 2 who brought his score to thirty-one kills, close on the heels of Mölders. Scoring multiple victories were Oblt. Hans Philipp of 4./JG 54 who downed four British fighters to reach fifteen kills, two Spitfires and a Hurricane to Oblt. Roloff von Aspern of 5./JG 54, a pair of Spitfires was credited to Oblt. Herbert Ihlefeld of 1.(J)/LG 2 to bring his scoreboard to twenty-five, a pair of Hurricanes to Hptm. Walter Oesau of Stab III./JG 51 who ended the day with thirty victories, Oblt. Arnold Lignitz of 9./JG 51 destroyed two Hurricanes for his 17th and 18th kills and Oblt. Gustav Rödel of 4./JG 27 who gained his 13th and 14th victories over two Hurricanes. Double kills were also credited to Lt. Willi Kothmann of 2./JG 27, Uffz. Xaver Ray of 8./JG 53, Ofw. Josef Pöhs of 5./JG 54 and Lt. Otto Grote of 4./JG 54.

Before returning to base, Kommodore Mölders of JG 51, downed another Spitfire from RAF No. 222 Sqdrn, the same British fighter who had just shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Maidstone. It was his forty-first victory. His brother, Oblt. Viktor Mölders of 2./JG 51 recorded his ninth kill of the war, a Hurricane. II./JG 52's return to the front started disastrously when five pilots, including Oblt. Karl Trieber, and seven planes were lost. Fw. Franz Bogasch of 4./JG 52 was shot down and captured.

Billeted at a pub on the Kent coast, they had been ordered to capture any German aircrew shot down in the countryside. But the men of the 1st Battalion London Irish Rifles were to carve themselves a little-known place in military history: they fought the last ever battle to take place on the British mainland. An isolated Junker 88 piloted by Uffz. Fritz Ruhlandt fell prey to British planes in the area of North Kent near Faversham. British Spitfire and Hurricane fighters from RAF No. 66 and No. 92 Squadron had attacked what they recognized as a new variant of the Junkers Ju 88 over Faversham. An order had been issued to them to capture one such aircraft intact if possible. The German bomber's first engine had already been damaged by anti-aircraft fire during a raid on London and the Spitfires were able to destroy its second engine, forcing the pilot to make a crash landing on Graveney Marsh. The injured plane was skilfully landed on the Graveney Marshes close to the Sportsman Inn near the sea wall. The 1st London Irish were quickly on the scene to face the crew of the Junker 88 expecting an instant surrender. To the horror of the London Irish the German crew opened fire with two machine guns and submachine gun fire. The Captain of the London Irish positioned his men along the dykes of the Marshland ready to return the fire. As they crawled nearer they saw a single white flag implying a surrender of the German crew. As the London Irish advanced closer to apprehend the enemy crew a skirmish broke out injuring two of the Germans. After a short battle the Germans surrendered – and their captors then took them for a pint at their local pub. The aircraft was taken to Farnborough Airfield where it was said to have "provided highly valuable information". Captain Cantopher was subsequently awarded the George Medal for his action. The extraordinary skirmish, has been nicknamed the 'Battle of Graveney Marsh'. It was the last battle fought on English soil. The battle also inspired the writer Kevin Wells to immortalize the fight in his poem "The Battle of Graveney Marsh". (printed at the end of this post.)

There were no further raids until during the night when the all too familiar pattern of bombing raids on London continued. Edinburgh was visited just after dusk and there were scattered raids in the Liverpool District, Birmingham and Nottingham, mostly up to midnight. German activity was chiefly directed towards London from the French Coast and lasted from 1940 hours to 0600 hours, with a brief lull from 0215 to 0315 hours. At 0315 hours, there was renewed activity from the Abbeville area to London crossing the coast between Bexhill and Hastings. This stream continued until about 0600 hours when the last raids were re-crossing the coast.

It appeared that damage was of a less serious nature than on the previous night although communications were again affected and several fires started. A fire was started at The Thames Ammunitions Works but the damage was negligible. Liverpool was again the night-time target for the Dorniers of KGr 606. One of the bombers broke away from the formation and again dropped its load on the city of Bristol.

With the end this day, one of the most active and disappointing for the Luftwaffe, Adolf Galland told Göring;

"in spite of the heavy losses we are inflicting on the enemy fighters, no decisive decrease in their number or fighting efficiency was noticeable. . . ."

WESTERN FRONT: The bomber element of the Corpo Aereo Italiano left the airfields of San Damanio di Piacenza and Cameri di Novara on the morning of the 27 September, flying in formation through the autumn weather, over the plains of Lombardy and Piedmont. On the northeast course, they approached the Alps under 7/10ths cloud, steadily increasing altitude before levelling for the crossing. Over the mountains, the weather deteriorated further with 8/10ths strato-cumulus being at its worst in the region of Innsbruck. Six bombers landed safely in various German airports (four at Nürnberg, one at München and one at Ergoding (Ergelding?)). Three bombers safely landed at Anversa, they too had used too much lubricant.

THE BATTLE OF GRAVENEY MARSH
Spitfires, tearing through the sky,
turning like pipistrelles
squaring up to vie
with the Luftwaffe's' finest.
During those final throes of the Battle of Britain,
on September 27th,1940...
divesting Germany in a mid-air sortie
of technology much needed
for an island that stood alone

A Junkers 88, barely two weeks old
with the latest navigation aids
and bomb-sights aboard,
wounded,
falling like a dead leaf onto British soil…

At Graveney Marsh, near Whitstable, Kent
the 1st battalion London Irish were sent to
apprehend the luckless crew
who fought for their secret before being subdued
to Lancaster and Halifax went this new technology
to avenge London, Portsmouth,
Southampton and Coventry
This last fought battle on English turf
deserves far more than the obscure footnote
by which history has measured its worth

by Kevin Wells

 

[Glider]

Its interesting how high the losses were in replacement German Pilots. It supports the view that the Luftwaffe had as many problems with replacement crews as did the RAF

Loved the bit about buying the Germans a pint, seems like something only the British would do.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Yea, that is pretty cool.

 

[Njaco]

28 September 1940 Saturday
UNITED KINGDOM: Luftwaffe activity consisted of a few isolated raids and three main attacks, of which two were delivered over Kent towards London and one was directed against the Portsmouth area. Forced by the huge losses suffered by large formations, a change in Luftwaffe tactics found smaller formations of bombers - about thirty or so of the fast Ju 88 bombers - escorted by between 200 and 300 fighters. The first use of this method was around 0955 hours, when raids totaling about 120 aircraft approached the Kent Coast, of which seventy penetrated inland in two waves. One wave of thirty German bombers were escorted by several large fighter formations from JG 26 and JG 54 near Deal, heading towards London. This first wave of aircraft flew to Biggin Hill and about six of these reached Central London. Bombs were dropped in Poplar, Deptford and Woolwich. The second wave did not penetrate further West than Maidstone. Intercepted by the RAF, the formations were driven off but not without difficulty as the high altitude of the German fighters placed the British fighters at a disadvantage. Several skirmishes were fought but with light losses. Hptm. Gerhard Schöpfel of Stab III./JG 26 downed his nineteenth enemy plane just north of Dungeness during this raid.

The second raid of the day occurred around 1430 hours when fifty Bf 110s escorted by fighter elements of JG 2, JG 3, JG 26, JG 51 and JG 52 crossed the coast heading for Portland. The raid spread out over Kent but didn't penetrate further West than a line Beachy Head - Maidstone - Isle of Sheppey. The raid aroused a 25-Squadron response to deal with a section of 40 bombers and 120 fighters, all flying high. Intercepted by fighters from RAF No. 10 Group along with five squadrons from No 11 Group, the German invaders were driven off before reaching their targets. But not before serious clashes with the escorting fighters. Other fighters engaged about the Bf110s off Portsmouth. Several Experten added to their scores as the bombers fled back to France. Top of the list was again Major Werner Mölders of Stab/JG 51 for his forty-second kill ( a Spitfire over Littlestone) , followed by Hptm. Helmut Wick of Stab I./JG 2 for his thirty-second, Ofw. Werner Machold of 9./JG 2 for his twenty-third, Hptm. Walter Oesau of Stab III./JG 51 for his thirty-first, Lt. Gustav Sprick of 8./JG 26 for his twentieth and Hptm. Rolf Pingel of Stab I./JG 26 for his sixteenth.

About five minutes after the second raid crossed the coast heading for France the third wave of bombers and fighters appeared. While the attack in Kent was reaching its peak, this raid crossed the Channel towards Portsmouth with a small formation breaking off to Tangmere. Some sixty German aircraft flew from Cherbourg towards Portsmouth. The raids were met by five Squadrons of RAF No 11 Group which were diverted from the Kent attack, and by four Squadrons of RAF No 10 Group. Faced with this strong defense, the bombers turned and headed back, dropping their bomb loads into the Channel. Three other efforts of little consequence were made during the afternoon over Hastings, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Southampton, and no bombs were reported as having been dropped.

There were two attacks on convoys during the day. At 1515 hours, there was an attack on a convoy off Spurn Head. At 1730 hours, more Luftwaffe aircraft attacked a convoy near the Thames Estuary.

During the night London was bombed along with the airfield at Digby, the Midlands, Liverpool, Derby, Nottingham, Peterborough and the Bristol Channel area. German night activity commenced at about 2000 hours when the first raids crossed the Sussex Coast and approached London. At the same time, raids which appeared to originate from the Dutch Islands crossed the Coast in the Wash area and penetrated over Lincolnshire and Norfolk to Digby, Peterborough and Nottingham. Raids were also plotted into the Liverpool area, returning over Wales. At 2100 hours, a concentration of raids on London was plotted, crossing the Coast near Portsmouth and also between Beachy Head and Shoreham. The 121 raiders approached London, with 65 crossing its heart between 18:46 and 07:12 hours and causing the defending guns to fire for nine hours. Major incidents occurred at Lambeth and Nine Elms goods yards, the Albert Embankment, and Southwark, where three HEs destroyed St. Peter's Crypt Shelter, killing 18 outright and trapping many.

After midnight, activity spread westwards to include an area Selsey Bill - St Albans Head and North to Middle Wallop, but the main objective of most raids was still London and its Western suburbs. Two isolated raids were plotted in Oxfordshire, and two in the Bristol Channel. By 0230 hours, raids were less in number but were still approaching London from the Coast of Sussex. Several hospitals were hit including West Middlesex Heston, Staines Emergency, St Bernards (Uxbridge) and Barnes Isolation. Two raids were plotted in the Derby area. At 0345 hours, a fresh stream of raids came from Dieppe towards London and activity over this area continued until 0550 hours.

Losses: Luftwaffe, 16; RAF, 16.

NORWAY: Uffz. Otto Niemeyer of 4./JG 77 received his fourth victory in the late afternoon when he shot down a British Hudson bomber north west of Bergen.

 

[Airframes]

Great stuff once again Chris. All the times I've seen that pic of the '109 on the beach, and i never knew it was flown by Marseilles ! Is that the one now flying in Canada?!!

 

[Njaco]

I'm not sure but the one site I had had that caption. I researched a little but couldn't find anything against it. Very interesting!

 

[Bernhart]

never realized so much happened late September

 

[Gnomey]

Great stuff! Thanks for keeping this going.

 

[pbfoot]

Great stuff once again Chris. All the times I've seen that pic of the '109 on the beach, and i never knew it was flown by Marseilles ! Is that the one now flying in Canada?!!

nope his was recovered out of Russia and it wknr 3579

 

[Njaco]

Thanks Neil!

and sometimes things aren't what they seem. Just caught this and can't believe I wasn't sharper in catching it.

anybody notice something with these 2 pics I posted earlier?

 

[tail end charlie]

Thanks Neil!

and sometimes things aren't what they seem. Just caught this and can't believe I wasn't sharper in catching it.

anybody notice something with these 2 pics I posted earlier?

Quite obviously the first photo was on the 14th of August, just look at the weather reports


there seems to be a bit of photo shop work there.

 

[Njaco]

29 September 1940 Sunday
UNITED KINGDOM: Apart from a sweep by German fighters through Kent westwards, and as far as Reading by one element, the day's activities consisted of reconnaissances, attacks on shipping and some inland flights. In the morning extensive reconnaissances took place off-shore in the East Kent and Thames Estuary areas. One Do 215 flew inland at Ramsgate to Maidstone and Northolt and was shot down at Taplow.

At 0910 hours one aircraft crossed the Coast at Lyme Bay and flew through Somerset to Wiltshire. At 1120 hours eighteen high explosive bombs were dropped near the naval base of Lowestoft. A land mine was detonated and some ammunition exploded causing damage to property, water mains and telegraph wires. There were several casualties. At about 1127 hours one convoy was attacked in the Portsmouth area, and at 1135 hours a "Help" message was received from another convoy off the North Wales Coast. British fighters failed to intercept the attacking Luftwaffe aircraft.

Several Luftwaffe aircraft endeavored to reach London during the afternoon but only a few were able to do this, and there were no major occurrences, but in the evening Sittingbourne was subjected to heavy bombing. At 1610 hours three formations of fifty, twenty and twenty German aircraft crossed the Coast West of Dungeness at 10 minute intervals, while a further twelve aircraft went inland at Dover. The first raid flew westwards of the London area before wheeling south. A split however, flew towards Central London. The remainder penetrated only some 25 miles inland. All the German aircraft were fighters flying at a great height most probably from JG 3 and JG 53. Bf 109s of JG 53 and JG 3 claimed Hurricanes between 1720-1738 hours south of London.

Between 1800 and 1900 hours three small raids of nine, three and three aircraft were plotted by the British radar in St George's Channel, and intercepted with the result of one German aircraft being destroyed.

Night operations commenced at about 2000 hours and London was again the main objective, but considerable activity took place over South and South East England, South Wales, the Midlands and as far North as Liverpool, East Anglia, Aberdeen and the Firth of Forth area. At 1930 hours the first German raids were plotted approaching the Coast at Shoreham from the direction of Dieppe. From 2000 hours onwards, a steady stream of raids crossed the Coast between Portsmouth and Beachy Head, the majority having London as their objective. A few, however, coming in over Portsmouth, flew North-west to the Middle Wallop area.

Between 2100 and 0200 hours, raids of one or one or more aircraft crossed the Coast between Poole and Start Point and flew to the South Wales area, some continuing North to Liverpool. At 2230 hours Heinkel He 111s of III./KG 27 raided Liverpool which resulted in fires being started at Duke's Dock and Salthouse Dock. Four warehouses, including one containing grain, caught on fire.

A number of raids crossed the Coast at points between Clacton and the Wash. A few of these approached London from the North-east, whilst the others were active over East Anglia and the Midlands. Bombing caused several fires, the most serious being in Upper Thames Street. An unexploded bomb is also reported to have been dropped in the South East corner of St Paul's Churchyard. Cheapside and Queen Victoria Street were closed. Horse Shoe Wharf, Cannon Street and Carter Lane were also affected. An He 111 from 9./KG 55 failed to return from one attack on aircraft factories near Gloucester while another He 111 from the Staffel made it to Caen before crashing. The plane from 9 staffel may have been the Heinkel He111P from KG 55 that was shot down by a Hurricane of the RAF off the coast of Ireland. The entire crew were killed and buried in Glencree.

After 0200 hours Luftwaffe activity was almost entirely confined to the South Eastern Counties and the London area. At 0230 hours, raids were approaching London both from the South and from the East. Activity continued until 0305 hours when the last raids were plotted leaving England.

Although the British allowed for five aircraft missing with three pilots killed or missing, numerous Jagdflieger made claims during the day, mostly from JG 3, JG 51 and JG 53. Hptm. Walter Oesau of Stab III./JG 51 destroyed two Spitfires to bring his score to thirty-three. Oblt. Ignaz Prestele of 2./JG 53 claimed a pair of Hurricanes near London to boost his score to eight. Altogether fourteen German pilots were given credit for kills over England.

Two of the British fighters were lost to friendly fire. P/O. C. Graves of RAF No. 253 Sqdrn in Hurricane Mk I V6621 was mistakenly attacked and shot down by a Hurricane during action against Bf109s over Weybridge, Surrey at 1830 hours. Graves baled out, burned, near Chailey, Sussex, and admitted to Brockley Park Hospital, Haywards Heath. Before being shot down, Graves claimed a Bf109 flown by Oblt Walter Layerer of 2./JG 77, who was killed. Flight Lieutenant R. M. B. D. Duke-Woolley, also of RAF No. 253 Sqdrn in Hurricane Mk I P3609 was also mistakenly attacked by a Hurricane and damaged in the fuel tank and rudder controls during action against Bf109s over Weybridge, Surrey and returned to base, unhurt.

Losses: Luftwaffe, 5; RAF, 5.

 

[fastmongrel]

Thanks Neil!

and sometimes things aren't what they seem. Just caught this and can't believe I wasn't sharper in catching it.

anybody notice something with these 2 pics I posted earlier?

The RAF only had 2 aircraft they just flew them round in circles so it looked like they had lots.

 

[Njaco]

What kills me is that the top pic is from a book while the bottom is from this site...

14th September 1940: Hurricane fighter planes taking off from Gravesend, aft...

I hope they didn't pay Getty for that image!